EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues IPEM Registration

The NHS is the system in the UK. Here we pay National Insurance Contributions. So, no-one should be "uninsured". It's pretty clear that successive governments haven't done a very good job of managing the Health Service, so perhaps the time has come to take a look at other ways of doing things. Remember too that much of the business of government these days is carried out by so-called "Agencies". Most (if not all) of which are actually private companies under contract to the government.

I have personal experience of involvement in Operations and Maintenance contracts at government hospitals overseas. I'm not saying that it's necessarily the answer to all the NHS's problems, but I do believe that it should be considered.

All of which has absolutely nothing to do with IPEM Registration!

... and who is to take on the role of Judge, Jury, and Executioner?

In case of mishap, surely we should be closing ranks, not punishing people? After all, that's what the medics do!

No, in cases of (as you put it) "cock up" ... why can't it be "lessons have been learned"?

What's that saying about "Sauce for geese"?

What's sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander. ... that's the one!

The NHS will always be a complete failure or falling to pieces, at least that's what the politicians will have you to believe. If good things was heard about the NHS, Politicians would actually have to work for a living! Any way next election the NHS should get a rest bit, Gordon's been and f****d up the economy. To be fair to the poor guy he's just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it won't matter to the Conservatives.

As for other ways, watch Sicko and see just how good a profit driven healthcare system is!

Who mentioned "profit driven"? And, I must admit that I don't know what "Sicko" is ... a TV programme? Who needs that when I can (and have) seen it all for real?

I won't respond to your comments about our politicians (on the grounds that this forum is not really the place for that).

It's Michael Moore's documentary on the US health system. Apparently Guantanamo bay is the only place on US soil with free healthcare so Michael Moore takes a bunch of American's there to see if he can get them treatment.

There's no such thing on this earth as "free healthcare". It all has to be paid for somehow, by someone, somewhere!

If, for instance, people had to choose between the latest gee-whiz "must have" (plasma TV?), or overseas holiday, and, say, their cataract surgery, that might not be a bad thing. It would drive home the realities of the situation, and enhance the value of what was being done.

Like all "free" systems, the NHS (and the welfare benefits system) is open to abuse. Both already go way beyond what was originally conceived.

Now that analogy always worried me what happens to those who can't choose any of them? If a patient can't afford to complete their treatment could we possibly see a 21st century version of this lady but with something even worse?

Should we not treat all citizens regardless of their ability to pay, or should we welcome back diseases like Polio or one's like Ebola?

Do I really have to spell it out?

We all pay into National Insurance. This should be (but isn't) a fund. Everybody gets the treatment they need, when they need it. No-one would be turned away. Payment is drawn from the fund. The difference would be that the person's individual account (within the fund) would be debited, and they would be made aware of this (and thereby recognize and appreciate more fully its value). Depending upon how many "credits" each person is granted as the scheme commences, a person may well fall into debt. Ways would be available top-up the account (including from the "benefit" system). But an individual would be encouraged to add funds to his (her) own account, just as those outside the PAYE system top up their National Insurance Contributions at present.

... something like that.

I have heard about a suggestion that every child be granted (at birth) so many "credits" into his (her) "benefits" account. As they progress through life, that account (which would be interest bearing - not that this would mean much at present) would be debited as "government services" were paid for (including fines, I might add). Each five or ten years, the taxpayer may bung increments into everyone's account, at a rate set at each Budget (or whatever). Upon retirement, whatever was left would become a pension. Personally, I like this idea. It rewards people who take responsibility, whilst allowing the dross of society to squander their "credits" on clean syringes, so-called "rehabilitation", fines, and any other "service" they might require.

It is well known that a large percentage of a person's "entitlements" are often expended in the last few weeks of life. Is that wise? Somehow, I doubt it. What if I elected to spend mine on getting my teeth sorted out at age 57? Patient choice? Yet another cliché.

Or would you rather than us taxpayers pick up the tab for everyone in the world to come to Britain for hospital treatment?

I've got a better one, if they couldn't top up those accounts they can apply to the EBME.co.uk fund which would be donations from members of this site. With this money the sick could use it as travel expenses to travel to the home of Geoff Hannis and pass on their diseases. Thus hopefully if your scheme ever came into effect you'd probably be the poorest man in Britain and hopefully less inclined to come up with these silly ideas.

Any donations?

These are not my ("silly") ideas, but those that I have heard about. Such as these are under consideration by those charged with providing a service of ever-increasing (ever-demanding) proportions.

Meanwhile, what's your idea? Just to let things drag on as they are now, I suppose?

Meanwhile ... back to IPEM.